Sam's Club option for Optima Spiral Batteries

[Roger rodbolt]

I noticed that Sam's Club now has the Champion XLT Extreme Performance sealed spiral-wound cell batteries for sale. The 1000 cranking amp battery for our trucks sells for $99 and has a 9 year limited warranty, 36 month free replacement warranty and 36 months free jump start.



The XLT might be an alternative for the Optima. It's made by Exide and according to the brochure that I picked up, it's promoted to have twice the life of a normal lead acid battery, provide more power/less pounds, better vibration resistance, leak free and faster recharge. The Sam's service manager said that the RV/Marine batteries would be in stock shortly.



I mention this because the Optima batteries are more expensive in my area, have just a three year warranty and slightly less power. I have no personal experience with or ties to either brand of spiral-wound/sealed batteries. I do spend way to much money at Sam's . Larry

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks Larry, I'm going to Sams down here in Springfield today and will check and see if they carry them.

 

[illflem]

I bought six of the Champion XLT Extreme Performance "red tops" on sale for $59 to use in farm equipment three years ago. All are doing fine.

 

[RustyJC]

I put one in my 1996 3500 V-10 that had a habit of eating the factory batteries every year - internal failures due to vibration. The Champion XLT I installed in 1998 is still in the truck as far as I know.



Rusty

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Thanks Larry, I'm going to Sams down here in Springfield today and will check and see if they carry them.

Checked it out today. $99. 62 at the Sams club in Springfield. Very impressive battery.

 

[KL]

Larry, do you know if the 1000 rating was for Cold Crank Amps (CCA) or for plain Cranking Amps(CA)? Cold cranking Amps are measured at a lower temperature. Batteries loose power at lower temperatures, Therefore the same battery should have 2 different ratings (I think the CCA rating usually is about 20 percent below the CA rating).



I used to live in Idaho where the winters could get real cold. Some battery dealers would show the CCA ratings and some would show the CA ratings. So a battery with 900 CA was actually less powerful then a battery with 800 CCA. So when it was time to buy a new battery you always had to double check to make sure that you were comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges, Klaus

 

[ronco]

I think ( that's when I get into trouble ) that the Cranking Amps is at 32* degrees F and Cold Cranking Amps is at 0*F.



Hope that helps!



Ronco

 

[KL]

Ronco, those number sounds familiar now. Thanks. KL

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Klaus and Ronco,

I believe that you are both correct. I don't have the brochure with me but I think the Cold Cranking Amps was 770 on the Champion XLT. The Optima's at the parts store were maybe 670CCA and they could order a 750CCA if I remember correctly.

Sam's smaller battery was a (??)950CA XLT for $95 and change.



Pit Bull,

Be very careful checking out the mechandise at Springfield. I traveled there on Saturday to inspect a '98 Quadcab 12V dually for a TDR member back east. The truck was in an eBay auction and was a real decent CTD. Afterwards I parted with a good portion of my Discover card, chasing bargains in the Bass Pro outlet store , Larry

 

[Thomas]

The Optima 34/78 claims:



CCA (BCI 0°F): 800 amps

MCA (BCI 32°F): 980 amps



Less than $100 at my local Costco last week.

 

[wcjp]

I just noticed the Optima Yellowtop at Pep Boys for $110.

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Thomas,

Sounds good, the Optima available from a local Advance Auto Parts (this summer) were $119, none had that power that you listed and had a 3 yr. warranty. Where did you find the PDF for the spec's? I went to the website but didn't find the spec's for other sizes. Larry

 

[RKohn]

Seen'em cheaper. Besides, Pep Boys ticked me off last year cause they were too stupid (sorry it's company policy, we have to use our metric spec book, made by the parts company, which says they're too thin so we can sell you new ones) to turn my rotors. Seems they didn't believe the minimum thickness spec that was cast in the side of the rotor or couldn't read a real micrometer (not as high tech as their plastic calipers).



Thank God for Napa.

 

[Thomas]

Roger R,



The specs for all Optima batteries are on their website (optimabatteries.com). It takes some looking.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by Roger rodbolt

Where did you find the PDF for the spec's? I went to the website but didn't find the spec's for other sizes. Larry

Here you go Larry..... http://www.optimabatteries.com/products/starter/technical.asp



Later, Rob

 

[JohnE]

I saw them at local Sam's (sorry) Club, too. Being they are made by Exide, I kept on walking. Never more Exide in my diesel for this person.

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Originally posted by Rob Thomas

Here you go Larry..... http://www.optimabatteries.com/products/starter/technical.asp



Later, Rob

Thanks Rob, that's what I needed! Larry

 

[Doubleclutch]

JohnE... there's a story there. Care to share it? If it's a hot one, would you consider a PM? Thanks, Greg

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I checked this morning at our local Sam's club, they have the spiral-type batteries here too, but not Exides or Optima - or is Champion an Exide company? Anyway, they were $99 for a 900 amp/770 CCA model... But, some RVers are switching to the spiral type batteries, and seem to be having charging problems with them - dunno if some RV chargers aren't compatible, or what - will have to check - seems like guys running them in their trucks are doing OK, as long as they keep the batteries properly matched...

 

[JohnE]

Exides

I put in the recommended Exide replacement batteries for OEM. Turns out these battereis have better CCA, but much less RC than factory. I expect peak performance from batteries. I have an Espar which reallt drains them. I have s short commute (3 miles). On cold winter days of running my Espar 2 hours and not much recharge they do not hold up. I ended up freezing them and boiling over on the subsequent recharge. That was a lot of carnage to the fender wells.



I put a replacment Exide in the mommie van. It has vented heavily to the point of leaving a wet trail , but no visible corrosion, yet.



Funny thing. I got the Exides for my pickup from a local Detroit Diesel Allison shop. They have much better luck with Exides in the truck batteries (1150 & 8D) than other brands.



I should have gone with Interstate and will on the next change out.